One of the most iconic filmmakers of all time, Francis Ford Coppola is returning with his passion project that he has been developing since the early 1980s, Megalopolis. Starring Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel, the epic sci-fi drama follows Julia Cicero’s struggle between her father’s traditional values and her lover Ceaser’s progressive vision for post-disaster New York City.
Coppola, known for iconic films like The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now, recently hosted a screening of his new epic at the Universal CityWalk IMAX theater. However, despite attendance by industry titans, reports suggest Coppola may face distribution challenges, with insiders hinting at a potential uphill battle to secure a distributing partner for Megalopolis.
Insiders Predict Distribution Struggle for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola is actively seeking a mainstream distributor willing to invest heavily in marketing for his latest epic sci-fi drama Megalopolis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker expects a studio to readily commit to a marketing budget of around $40 million domestically and $80-$100 million globally.
As the filmmaker hosted a screening for his self-financed film at the Universal CityWalk Imax theatres, prominent industry figures such as Sony’s Tom Rothman, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, and executives from Warner Bros and Disney were also in attendance.
Despite the notable interest from potential distributors, multiple sources from the screening have expressed doubts about Megalopilis finding a distribution partner easily. “There is just no way to position this movie,” one distributor told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Everyone is rooting for Francis and feels nostalgic,” another said before adding, “But then there is the business side of things.” Another attendee also highlighted the noticeable silence following the film’s conclusion but refrained from dismissing it entirely.
“But it’s really imaginative and does say something about our time. I think it’s going to be a small, specialized label [that picks it up],” they said. Universal and its subsidiary Focus have reportedly already withdrawn from bidding for distribution rights.
Studio Executives Warn Against Investing in Megalopolis
While Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis was not filmed for Imax, the filmmaker has expressed a keen interest in an IMAX release. Sources close to the project suggest that IMAX might provide support if the film secures distribution.
However, industry veterans have highlighted the financial risk involved for the distributors. They suggested that Coppola could make the film more appealing by covering the P&A costs himself or providing financial assurances.
“If [Coppola] is willing to put up the P&A or backstop the spend, I think there would be a lot more interested parties,” one distribution veteran stated. It is also being described as a “hard sell” for a broad audience as many pointed out several complexities in the story. Another studio head offered a harsher assessment of the sci-fi drama.
“It’s so not good, and it was so sad watching it,” the studio head said. They even went on to caution against investing in the film, warning that it would likely result in financial losses. However, others also described it as “a very big film,” acknowledging its grand scale and ambition.
